I had spent several months visiting the small town of Cleator in the Bradshaw Mountains. In fact, I had just spent the entire day up there photographing and interviewing Dave Rhodes, one of only eight permanent residents of the town, a week earlier. It was all part of a large project I was working on Arizona ghost towns that still have a handful of residents living in them. It was a Tuesday morning, when I received a phone call from Dave’s wife, Darlene. From the tone of her voice I knew what she was going to say. She called to tell me that just a few days earlier, Dave had passed away quietly in his sleep. He was 49- years old. I was shocked and saddened, but also considered myself so lucky to have gotten to spend an entire day with Dave just a week before. I did an extensive video interview with Dave on that day. One of the last things Dave said to me after I asked him if he would like to live in Cleator forever was, “My intention is to live here the rest of my life. I would hate to have to leave but if I have to I have to.” Dave’s personal story was so fascinating that, Arizona Republic reporter Ron Dungan, editor Josh Susong and myself decided to do a separate story just on Dave. Check out the video I produced on the life of Dave Rhodes, his passing and how he was remembered by his community.

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